Ahead of the FA Cup Final, much of the talk was about Wilfried Zaha.
The Crystal Palace winger had a chance to show his former club Manchester United what they were missing, and was going into the game as his club’s player of the year after an impressive personal season.
But pictures of the 23-year-old crying on the Wembley pitch less than 90 minutes before kickoff led many to speculate that he would miss the game through injury.
https://twitter.com/HaseebBani/status/734043397107908608
After scoring winning goals in the third and fourth round of the FA Cup, Zaha had been out of action since the semi-final victory over Watford.
It was a surprise, therefore, to see Zaha named in the starting line-up.
But manager Alan Pardew explained that the tears were nothing to do with injury, as some had speculated.
AP on the pre-match Wilf rumours: We put some personal messages in the dressing room, from family members, I think one of those got to him.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 21, 2016
AP: I knew there were lots of rumours flying around, but it was that I think.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 21, 2016
AP: He has a big, big family and I think he was emotional about the message. We got him fired up and he had some great moments in the game.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) May 21, 2016
Having seen footage from the Toulouse camp before their Ligue 1 relegation decider, it’s easy to understand how much of an emotional impact messages from family can have in this sort of situation.
Sadly for Zaha and his team-mates, Palace were unable to hold on to the 78th-minute given to them by Jason Puncheon.
Juan Mata equalised, before Jesse Lingard’s extra-time strike handed victory to 10-man United.
Pardew’s preemptive victory dance counted for nothing.
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